Foundation garments



Oct. 18, 1960 c. K. WANlSH FOUNDATION GARMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledJan. 21, 1959 INVENTOR. CHARLES K. WANlsH Oct. 18, 1960 c. K. WANISHFOUNDATION GARMENTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1959 INVENTOR.CHARLES K. WANISH United States Patent FOUNDATION GARMENTS Charles K.Wanish, 17 Yong St., Cortland, NY.

Filed Jan. 21, 1959, Ser. No. 788,149

Claims. (Cl. 128-433) This invention concerns an improved foundationgarment construction.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a foundation garmentsuch a corset, corselette, girdle or the like which is easier for thewearer to put on than prior garments of this type.

A further object is to provide a foundation garment which holds the bodymore securely and comfortably and provides a smoother body contour thanprior garments of this type.

A still further object is to provide a foundation garment in which alesser number of hooks and eyes are used as the garment closure and inwhich the final garment closure is provided by a slide fastener.

According to the invention, the hooks and eyes serve initially toprovide a temporary closure while the wearer operates the slidefastener. After the slide fastener is closed, the hooks and eyes thenserve as supplemental closure means to relieve the slide fastener ofconsiderable strain while the garment is being worn.

The present invention is particularly applicable to foundation garmentsof the type used by stout female figures in which an inner belt isemployed to elevate and flatten the abdomen while the outer coverprovides a smooth body line and molds the body to a desired contour.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects andadvantages thereof, reference will be had to the following descriptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which thevarious novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a foundation garment embodying theinvention, the garment being in a closed condition and being providedwith a center front closure.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view of the garment in an open position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another foundation garment embodying theinvention, the garment being provided with a side closure.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the garment of Fig. 3, in an opencondition.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a garment having an innerabdominal belt 12 and an outer jacket or cover 14 adapted to enclose thetorso of a female person. The inner belt is provided with garter straps16 depending at the front of the belt. The belt is provided with aclosure formed by a plurality of closely spaced hooks 18 on an inneredge of the belt and a plurality of closely spaced corresponding eyes 20mounted on a lateral flap 22. The belt is provided with suitably placedelastic panels 24 for properly elevating and flattening the abdomen. Theflap and belt are attached at their rear ends to a central portion ofthe cover 14.

The cover 14 is generally rectangular in form when open, with panels 25,26 suitably shaped for fitting the garment to the body of the wearer.Upper shoulder straps 28 serve as an upper support for the garment.Garter straps 30 at the corners and 32 at intermediate or rear portionsof the cover are secured to the bottom edge 34 of the cover. The garmenthas an upper brassiere portion with cups 36, 37 provided in the frontpanels 25, 26. Near the free edge of panel 25 is provided a series ofclosely spaced hooks 38 located in the upper brassiere portion of thecover. A corresponding series of closely spaced eyes 40 is attached nearthe free edge of panel 26. Hooks 38 and eyes 40 engage to retain theupper part of the garment in desired conformation with the body contour.

The remaining lower free edge of panel 25 carries a strip 42 of slidefastener teeth. Another strip 44 of mating slide fastener teeth isattached to the lower part of the free edge of panel 26. The slidefastener assembly indicated as 45 in Fig. 1 formed by engaging the teethof strips 42 and 44 extends about two-thirds of the way up the garmentfrom the bottom edge 34. The slide fastener as shown, is of theseparable type with a starter point 46 on fastener strip 42. A slider 48is provided for locking the two strips of fastener teeth together. Thefastener preferably locks from the upper edge downwardly to the bottomedge, although it is possible to arrange the slide fastener to lock orclose from the bottom up.

Adjacent the slide fastener strip 42 is a small group of three or fourwidely spaced hooks 50, and a corresponding group of widely spaced eyes52 is attached adjacent to fastener strip 44.

In donning the garment, the cover 14 is fully opened as shown in Fig. 2.The inner belt 12 may be fully opened by disengaging the hooks and eyes18, 20., The wearer then engages the hooks and eyes 18 and 20 to closethe belt fully. Then the small group of books and eyes 50, 52 areengaged. This provides a drawing in of the wearers body and serves as atemporary closure while the wearer engages the slider 48 on starterpoint 46 and pulls the slider down to close the slide fastener assembly45. The wearer can now engage the hooks and eyes 38 and 40 to close thebreast portion of the garment.

The function of the hooks and eyes 50, 52 is particu larly important inthe present invention. They provide an initial drawing in of the bodyand a temporary closure while the wearer is closing the slide fastener.In addition, they supplement the slide fastener assembly as closuremeans and serve to relieve it of considerable strain during wear so thatthe life of the slide fastener is considerably lengthened.

If the hooks and eyes 50, 52 were omitted, the wearer would have a greatdeal of difficulty in closing the slide fastener because the body wouldbe in an unmolded and unconstrained condition. Use of the hooks and eyes50, 52 avoids this undesirable condition. Employment of a slide fastenerassembly is most desirable in a garment of the present type because itprovides a smooth dress line and attractive body contour with nounsightly bulges.

In prior garments of this type, where hooks and eyes were relied uponalone to serve as the garment closure, great difiiculty was experiencedin closing the garment because the wearer Was confronted with anunrestrained body against which the hooks and eyes had to be forcedclosed. The great strain to which these hooks and eyes was subjectedfrequently tore them loose so that the garment failed in its purpose.Furthermore, even when the hooks and eyes were fully engaged, they didnot provide a continuous closure like a slide fastener, but insteadprovided a discontinuous or intermittent and spaced closure, so that abulge appeared between each pair of engaged hooks and eyes, which wasunsightly and unsatisfactory. The present invention avoids theunsatisfactory closure provided by using hooks and eyes alone and inaddition speeds up considerably the donning of the garment since thecover is closed by engaging the three or four hooks and eyes 50, 52 anddrawing down the slider 48. The closure of the breast portion of thegarment is facilitated since the body is in a constrained, and flattenedcondition when the slide fastener is closed, so that the hooks and eyes38 and 40 can easily be performed. The breast closure is located betweencups 36, 37 in an easily reachable location. Thus, the entire garmentcan be put on in a few seconds without requiring other persons to assistthe wearer.

Instead of hooks 38 and eyes 40, any other suitable fastening means mayalso be used.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate a modification of the invention in which partscorresponding to those of Figs. 1 and 2 are identically numbered.Instead of the closure being disposed at the center front of thegarment, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the garment has the closure locatedlaterally so that it extends from the side of brassiere cup 37 to thebottom edge 34. This closure may be located on the other side of thegarment starting near cup 36 if desired. Some wearers prefer thislateral location of the closure and when some types of dresses are Worn,the laterally spaced closure is more desirable because it affordsgreater flexibility to the body along the center panel 23 at the front.In all other respects the functioning of the several closure members isidentical in both garments 10 and 10 While I have illustrated anddescribed the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to beunderstood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructionsherein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be madewithin the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by United States Letters Patcut is:

1. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torsocover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateralwholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured atone edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, anarrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner sideportion of the cover spaced from the firstnamed inner side portion ofthe cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of thebelt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support incooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first andsecond inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastenerstrips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of saidcover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing thecover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips forengaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof,a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent oneof the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near theother of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slidefastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engageeach other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener stripsare being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tensionwhen the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extendingupwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the lengthof the cover from bottom to top, said lateral free edges of the coverbeing wholly detached from each other from the top edge to the bottomedge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by first engaging thefastener members of the belt and fiap, then engaging the groups of booksand eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finally engaging andclosing the slide fastener strips.

2. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torsocover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateralwholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured atone edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, anarrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner sideportion of the cover' spaced from the first-named inner side portion ofthe cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of thebelt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support incooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first andsecond inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastenerstrips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of saidcover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing thecover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips forengaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof,a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent oneof the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near theother of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slidefastener strips, said groups of books and eyes being disposed to engageeach other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener stripsare being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tensionwhen the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extendingupwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the lengthof the cover from bottom to top, said cover being formed with abrassiere cup disposed near each of the two free edges of the cover atthe top thereof, so that said slide fasteners form an assembly disposedalong a front center line of the torso, said lateral free edges of thecover being Wholly detached from each other from the top edge to thebottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by firstengaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging thegroups of hooks and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finallyengaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

3. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torsocover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateralwholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured atone edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, anarrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner sideportion of the cover spaced from the first-named inner side portion ofthe cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of thebelt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support incooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first andsecond inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastenerstrips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of saidcover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing thecover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips forengaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof,a group of books disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent oneof the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near theother of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slidefastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engageeach other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener stripsare being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tensionwhen the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extendingupwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the lengthof the cover from bottom to top, said cover being formed with a pair ofbrassiere cups disposed at the top of the cover, with one of the freeedges of the cover being disposed outside of and adjacent one of thebrassiere cups so that the slide fasteners form an assembly disposedalong a lateral line at the side of the torso, said lateral free edgesof the cover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge tothe bottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is puton by firstengaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging thegroups of hooks and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finallyengaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

4. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torsocover having transverse top and hottom edges and longitudinal lateralwholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured atone edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, anarrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner sideportion of the cover spaced from the firstnamed inner side portion ofthe cover, hook and eye fastener members secured to free edges of thebelt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support incooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first andsecond inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastenerstrips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of saidcover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing thecover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips forengaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof,a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent oneof the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near theother of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slidefastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engageeach other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener stripsare being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tensionwhen the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extendingupwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the lengthof the cover from bottom to top, there being at least four hooks andfour eyes in said groups of hooks and eyes, said lateral free edges ofthe cover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge to thebottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by firstengaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging thegroups of hooks and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finallyengaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

5. A foundation garment, comprising a generally rectangular outer torsocover having transverse top and bottom edges and longitudinal lateralwholly free edges, an inner substantially rectangular belt secured atone edge thereof to a longitudinal inner side portion of the cover, anarrow flap secured at one edge to a second longitudinal inner sideportion of the cover spaced from the firstnamed inner side portion ofthe cover, hook and eye 6 fastener members secured to free edges of thebelt and flap for mutual engagement to provide an abdominal support incooperation with a central portion of the cover between the first andsecond inner portions thereof, a slide fastener including slide fastenerstrips secured respectively to outer free longitudinal edges of saidcover, said strips being adapted for mutual engagement for closing thecover to encircle the torso, a slider carried on one of the strips forengaging the strips in a single drawing motion from end to end thereof,a group of hooks disposed near one free edge of the cover adjacent oneof the slide fastener strips, and a group of eyes disposed near theother of said free edges of the cover adjacent the other of said slidefastener strips, said groups of hooks and eyes being disposed to engageeach other for restraining the torso while said slide fastener stripsare being closed and to relieve the slide fastener strips of tensionwhen the slide fastener is closed, said slide fastener strips extendingupwardly from a bottom edge of the cover about two-thirds of the lengthof the cover from bottom to top, there being at least four hooks andfour eyes in said groups of hooks and eyes, said cover being formed witha pair of brassiere cups at the top thereof, said free edges of thecover adjacent said cups carrying closely spaced hooks and eyes to forma breast closure portion for the cover, said lateral free edges of thecover being wholly detached from each other from the top edge to thebottom edge of the cover, whereby the garment is put on by firstengaging the fastener members of the belt and flap, then engaging thegroups of books and eyes near the slide fastener strips, and finallyengaging and closing the slide fastener strips.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,104,277 Schopbach et a1 J an. 4, 1938 2,117,103 Rabensdorf May 10,1938 2,239,217 Bullinger Apr. 22, 1941 2,389,410 Butow Nov. 20, 19452,569,379 Hollar Sept. 25, 1951 2,720,652 Wanish Oct, 18, 1955 2,791,774Schubert May 14, 1957

